Tanzania / Young Adult – July 18 – August 2, 2014

Tanzania / Young Adult – August 1-16, 2014

Tanzania / Young Adult – August 15-30, 2014

Tanzania Young Adult Itinerary

Day 1

Saturday: Meet at Kilimanjaro International Airport 8:00 p.m. to be picked up and transported to a hotel in Arusha.

Day 2

Sunday: Leave Arusha after breakfast. Arrive in Mto wa Mbu late afternoon and check in to the Twiga Lodge. After settling in we will meet the Majengo Orphanage staff and children. After enjoying a nutritious meal together we will end the day with a build orientation.

Day 3 to Day 7

Monday to Friday:
After breakfast, depart for the build site (three minute drive). Each day begins with an instructional orientation. Work begins at 9 a.m. and finishes at approximately 4:30 p.m. with snack and lunch breaks throughout. Return to Twiga Lodge for free time to explore, shop, swim, eat and relax.

Day 5

Wednesday afternoon
(R & R): After on-site lunch, return to Twiga Lodge for a free afternoon to participate in a local activities such as: the village walk, cycle Lake Manyara, hike to the top of the Rift Valley Escarpment and experience the true Tanzanian, Maasai culture or simply relax at the Twiga Lodge.

Day 8 and 9 (R & R)

Saturday morning: Travel to the Ngorongoro Crater for a safari. Ngorongoro Crater has often been described as one of the wonders of the world, not only because of its inherent geological significance, but also because it serves as a natural sanctuary for some of Africa’s most dense population of large mammals: hippos, elephants, lions, rhinos, wilda beast and more. The Ngorongoro was part of the original Serengeti National Park proclaimed in 1951. It became a UNESCO World Heritage Site
in 1978.

After the safari, travel to the Rift Valley Photographic Lodge, set high in a bush-cloaked ridge, with magnificent views over Lake Manyara National Park. Have dinner and breakfast here.

Sunday:
Lounge around the pool or take a walk with a Maasai warrior to the watering hole to see some of Tanzania’s wildlife (extra charge). Late Sunday afternoon: Return to Twiga for dinner.

Day 10 and 11

Monday and Tuesday: Return to previous week’s work schedule. Farewell gathering with the children and staff on Tuesday evening.

Day 12 to 15 (R & R)

Wednesday: After breakfast, travel to Arusha Airport to take a small plane (carry on and luggage must not weigh more than 17 kilos) to the island of Zanzibar (approximately one hour flight). Then we will be transported by bus to Mnarani Beach Cottages (www.lighthousezanzibar.com), where the group will spend the next three nights and four days on the Indian Ocean. Accommodation, breakfast and dinner are all included at the resort. Day trips, snorkeling, scuba diving and alcohol are all available at an additional cost. This area is known for its rich Swahili Arabic culture, white sand beaches and magnificent sunsets.

Saturday: Late check out before being transported to Stone Town for departing lunch. The afternoon is free to sightsee. Meet at the Zanzibar airport by 4 p.m. to fly home to Canada.

Travellers are welcome to arrive early or extend the trip so long as they meet up with the rest of the team at the airport on the first Saturday night of the trip. Otherwise, the traveller will be responsible for all costs incurred to meet up with the group at another location.

Details and pricing are subject to change.

Guatemala Young Adult Itinerary

Day 1

Leave Toronto and meet at Guatemala City International Airport in the early afternoon to be picked up and taken to a local hostel, which we will call home for the next week. During the build, the group will be staying at one of the following possible accommodations: El Hostel or Hostal Antigueno.

Arrive at the hotel around 4 p.m. (Please note that there is a time difference). Afternoon free for travellers to explore Antigua. Group will join for dinner later in the evening at a local restaurant.

Day 2-6

Group will depart for the build site after breakfast (30-45 minute drive). Each day begins with an instructional orientation. Work begins at 9 a.m. with snacks and lunch breaks throughout the day. The children are close by on regular school days; rest assured, their smiles, laughter and boundless warm presence make the work days fly by.
At approximately 4:30 p.m., return to the
hotel for free time to explore, shop, eat and relax.

Take advantage of the many opportunities to explore Antigua:

Cafés, markets, restaurants, bars, salsa dancing

Canopy zip lining

Mountain biking

Horse back riding

Day 4

Participate in a half-day build, returning to the hotel after lunch at the site. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure to participate in local activities (additional cost).

Day 7

Participate in half-day Melody School build, followed by a farewell gathering with all the children and staff.

Day 7 (R&R)

Thursday afternoon and night get ready for an amazing 48 hours. The group will participate in an overnight excursion to camp on the crater’s edge of Pacaya Volcano. There will be an easy hike to the top where we will enjoy dinner and breakfast. There is no better place to watch the sun set and rise and hopefully toast some marshmallows on some of the “hot” spots.

Day 8

After descending the volcano we will be taken on another overnight excursion to Lake Atitlan. We will stop for a picnic lunch during the 2.5 hour drive. Once we arrive in Panajachel we will catch a boat to Jaibalito, and the beautiful cliffside hotel Casa del Mundo. As it is perched on a cliff it affords lake front access alongside wonderful vantage points to appreciate the lake’s volcanic backdrop. You will be free to rest in the hammock, swim in the lake and enjoy another beautiful sunset. Family style dinner is included served at 6:30.

Day 9

After a hearty breakfast served around 8:00, we will gather our swimsuits, hiking shoes and sunscreen. We then paddle westward for 1 1/2 -2 hours past small towns and villages perched high on the steep sides of sheer ridges that rise right out of the waters of Lake Atitlan. We then trade in our kayaks for our daypacks and hiking shoes. After climbing out of town, we head back along the ridge we paddled by. Lunch will be waiting for us upon our return to Casa del Mundo. We will say our goodbyes, hop in the boat, return to our bus and arrive back at our hostel in Antigua around 6:00. You will then have the night to yourself.